Variable counterweight for pumping apparatus



Oct. 4,1927. H L. CWEN y 1,644,393

VARIABLE COUNTERWEIGHT FOR PUMPING APPARATUS Filzi? Dec. 4. 1925 Patented Oct. 4, `1927.

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'This invention? relates to counterweights of the kind that are used with pumping jacks and with pumping rigs ofthe type that comprise a walking beam. n Y

The object of my invention is to provide a variable counterweight that is inexpensive tov manufacture, that is easy to install, remove or adjust, and which is of such construction that the elements.' of which it `is composed are interlocked with each other in such a way that it is impossible for them to become accidentally disassembled.

Figure l of the drawings is a side elevational view of a portion of a well pumping rig equipped with a counterweight constructed in accordance with my invention.

Figure 2 is an enlarged top-plan View of said counterweight, with the guide rodsand hanger rod shown in section', said View being taken on the line Q--Q of Figure l.

Figure Sis a vertical transverse sectional View of saidcounterweight, ltaken on vthe line 3-3 of Figure 25 with the hanger rod shown in elevation; and

Figure 4l is a vertical longitudinal sectional view of said counterweight, taken on the line Jr-4L of FigureQ7 with the lguide rods and hanger rod shown iny elevationf- I have herein. illustrated 2my invention embodied in a counterweight for the walking beam of a well pumping rig, b utI wish it to be understood that my invention is applicable to counterweights for individual pumping'units, such as pumping jacks.v In the drawings A. designates the walking beam of a pumping rig, B` designates. al pair o stationary, vertically-disposed guide rods2 C designates my variable counterweight which slides on said guiderods, and `D Adesignates the hanger rod that is used` to connect s aid counterweight to yone end of the/'walking beam A. The counterweight C is made up of a number yof Aelements l arranged preferably in superimposed relation andprovided with co-operating means that effectively prevent said elements from` becoming accidentally disassembled or from moving out of operative relationship with the guide rods B 'andhanger rod D. In' the preferred 'form of my invention herein illustrated the elements l consist of substantially' oblongshaped castings arranged one above the other on a supporting plate 2 that issustained by lthe hanger rodv D, and each provided with three open-ended slots m extend# ving inwardly fromone of the longitudinal the rib 3 lof the next'lowermostelement. i

which are adaptedto receive the guide rods B and the hanger rod D. The elements l are intended tobe arranged in reverse position, namely, with the slots in one element extending vin the oppositer` direction to the"v slotsjwV in the adjacent" element or elements,

and said elements are provided with co-oper. 4ating means that effectively prevent said elements from lmoving laterally relatively to each other. VThe means just referred to can be constructed in various ways without .de-

parting from the spirit of my inventionfbut` .f

one means that I have found to be very effeci tive consists VofcO-operating projections and recesses on the meeting faces of the elements j l disposed so'that they interlock said elements with each otherand causesaid elements to' remain in vertical alignment, even when the countervveight-V is subjected tol `abrupt shocks and jars. In the form of my invention herein illustrated each of the-elements Vl is'provided onA its top `side with aV projection 3 constructed in theform of' a rib whose outline'conforms to the outline of said element, and isV provid-ed on its underside.

with a recess or groove lof corresponding, r j form or outline that'yis adapted to receiveV 1 Due to the fact that my improved counterweight is made up of a number of separate i elements', it can be variedto increase or de-` crease the weightV of same simply by adding .more elementsv l or by removingk Vsome of" n The operation of varying or I fv adjusting the counterweightcan kbe effected said elements.

quickly because no screw-threaded fastening devices are used to retain the elements ljin operative position, and notwithstanding the@ fact that said elements can be assembled `and*A l disassembled quickly, they cannotfpdrop off v the hanger rod or moveoutof operativerelationship with the guide rods `B,'even when the counterweight is subjected to a severe shock or jolt, due to the -fact that they vare v interlocked with each other'by1cooperating"- ribs and groovesiontheir meeting faces. In addition to the 'desirable features above Vpointed( out, a Vcounterweight ofthe con-f struction above described is inexpensive to j manufacture, as it is composed of a number f of duplicate castings offsimple design.

Having thus describedmy inventiomwhat y Y lll) Iclaim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent-is: l

' 'A' counterweightcomposed, of fa vertifA I cally-reciprocating hanger 'od,Vv af horizontally-disposed sup orting plate sustained by Vsaid rod, a pair o vertical, stationary guide rods on which the onnterweight trayels,l arranged parallel to and `in alignment with VSaid hanger rod,.ajnumber of Substantially oblong-shapedl Weight elements arranged A I? horizontally' nsu erimposed"*relation :on

said supporting .p ate and each provided `witlrthre'e'open-endedslotsthat receive saidy V hanger rod and guide rods and which are Vdisposed transversely of the elenient, said elements with Veach other.

' HARRY'L.; OWEN. e 

